Soap Dish Escape artist

[StirCrayzy]

Anyone have experience with these crabs? took months to order in, and LFS had them in reg tanks and made no mention of them tryin to get out. i constantly find him climbing my pickup tube and sitting at the screen i put on. he/she always pushes it t up and tries to get out.
Before purchase no research ive found really matched the look of this crab, but seemed close and no mention of them needing dry land. awesome on the CUC !!! keeps the bottom super clean even with an 8" oscar shredding pellet chunks 3 times a day.
Worst case if this thing needs dry land, i could move him into the turtle tank , but i fear a fight would result. or make him a new tank out of an old 10g.

Any info would be appreciated.

 

[Luukosian]

I have seen people use tall rocks or a peice of driftwood that sticks out of the water enough for fiddler crabs to climb to get their dry land fix....but then you would have to think of some other means to keep him from climbing over the edge of the tank.

 

[StirCrayzy]

this tank is going to be a paludarium next winter, there will be a dry option then, but for now, i dont really want to lower the water level enough to accomodate a climber.
i have screens covering the openings behind the lights, but cant put enough weight on them to keep em down. this crab is strong.

 

[dwall174]

Your crab looks like a Cardisoma Armatum Also known as Patriot, Rainbow, or soap box crab.

Anyway they are amphibians & need dry land!
They normaly stay at the waters edge near tide pools & "Brackish Water" they will do ok in either water but the brackish water helps in their molt cycle because of higher calcium levels.

 

[StirCrayzy]

i dont think i would say hes a patriot crab, he just finished a molt, i'll try to get some better shots.

 

[StirCrayzy]

ok here is his favorite spot.

In the corner
<a href="http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g48/stircrayzy/Critters/?action=view&current=IMG_1898.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g48/stircrayzy/Critters/IMG_1898.jpg" border="0" alt="right after molt"></a>

Going up the magnum
<a href="http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g48/stircrayzy/Critters/?action=view&current=IMG_1906.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g48/stircrayzy/Critters/IMG_1906.jpg" border="0" alt="up the waterspout"></a>



Also, im wondering about the depression on the right side of his back shell.

i left the screens off the tank and am keeping a close eye out to be sure
he doesnt go over the edge and get stranded.

 

[dwall174]

i dont think i would say hes a patriot crab

The color & markings of your crab is "Cool" & different from the ones I have seen before.
I was refering to your crab's body shape & style being like the Cardisoma armatum family which would make it Amphibious.

Just an idea! Maybe you can build him an enclosure on top of your tank, out of ceiling light grid "Eggcrate" I have made a lot of DIY stuff with plastic eggcrate & zip ties! Another thing that may work is that plastic leaf gutter guard?

 

[StirCrayzy]

do you think he would fight with a turtle? No mentions anywhere ive found aabout compatibility with reptiles. I have an extra 5g tank i can set up for him if i have to. So far i dont think he has any interest in leaving the viicinity of the water. and i figure my son will find him quickly, as ive taught him to check throughout the day to make sure the fish are all there and Ok.

 

[dwall174]

do you think he would fight with a turtle?

Given the slow nature of a turtle & the territorial aspects of crabs I don't think I would try it!
Crabs in general are scavengers and usually eat dead or injured fish, but given the chance he may go after the turtle.

 

[StirCrayzy]

I'll post some pics tomorrow of his new home. I will be considering a tankmate, since im going to be living with this 5g until the paludarium is done.
I am going to manually exchange the water in this tank with the 65g so i can keep it going as a FW QT just in case, and i can always toss the crab back in the 65 if i need to.

 

[StirCrayzy]

New temp housing unit for the crab, I made an acrylic lid, so i guess i can end the thread here, since he cant get out now.

 

[StirCrayzy]

So i havent had much time to post, but two days ago my son found him in the 65g !!!! He escaped again and found his way to his old home.
I will post pics in the morning of prob. ( stupid oversight )
And of the fix :fingerx:

 

[lcstorc]

Creative crab

 

[StirCrayzy]

So if you'll notice in the pic below, the filter cord apparently makes a wonderful ladder. I shouldve known better, but i had this peice of acrylic that was just a little short, and i figured it was good for airflow.

Here is the new lid, fasteners to follow, think i may need more airholes, there is quite a bit of condensation since i first put it on. but hopefully now he stays put.

 

[PEMfish]

What are the dimensions of the larger tank below, the one you calla 65g? It looks more like a 55g. A standard AGA 65g is 36x18x24"t.

 

[StirCrayzy]

Dimensions are 48x18x18ish High which works out to the same volume as standard 65g i forget what its called 65 long maybe, i took it over from a friend 10 years ago.

 

[PEMfish]

That makes sense.